Most of my life I have created artwork of one type or another.  While most of that work has never seen the light of day, Wolves have repeatedly appeared in my sketches and other creative work whether it was just for me or intended for a wider audience.  In retrospect. Wolf has also clearly guided many of the choices I have made in my life outside of art.  When hiking in deep wilderness areas I have often become aware of Wolf's presence.

As a result of a life long set of experiences involving Wolf, often without any conscious intent on my part, I decided to make the capstone project of my creative life a truly deep dive into all the aspects of Wolf.  The 77 Wolves Project is the ongoing result.

TWO SERIES:

The project has two series, each with its own place and purpose.

Conte Crayon Paintings:  These start as intimate 3.5 inch by 3.5 inch single panel works on a mini easel.  This series evolves to larger multi-panel pieces (see below for details).  These are for those who want to be involved directly in the project through helping determine which initial miniature single panel pieces get to evolve.  Conte Crayon is a unique medium most similar to a hard pastel.

Digital Paintings:  Each of the digital paintings is immediately available in multiple single panel sizes as Limited Editions from 12 inches by 12 inches to 48 inches by 48 inches.  These are for those who want to get straight to larger pieces or who do not want to work with multi-panel pieces.  The digital paintings have their own distinctive highly layered look very different than the conte crayon pieces.

77 WOLVES:

There are 77 Aspects of Wolf being explored in this project.  Each of them having multiple pieces created in either conte crayon or as a digital painting.  Over time each of the 77 Wolf Aspects is developing into a collection.  The name of the Collection is the name of the Aspect being explored in that collection.  The examples of the collections are such titles as Gather, Greet, Sing...  They will be revealed as the first Wolf for each collection comes into being.

EVOLUTIONS:

The Conte Crayon Painting Series is going through a series of Evolutions over the coming years.

Evolution 00:  These are the single panel (3.5 inches by 3.5 inches) on mini easels.  In this foundational level of the project many compositions and color schemes are being explored for each of the 77 Wolf Aspects.  These small, intimate exploratory pieces are ideal for shrines and altars to Wolf as well as unobtrusive placements throughout your home and workplace... wherever you would like your chosen Wolf or Wolves to be nearby.

This stage is not really an evolution but rather the development of the raw materials for the remaining evolutions.  Once at least 7 of these single panel Variant Originals are sold work will begin on Evolution 01.  The Community of the Pack decides which Wolves will see further development through the Evolutions detailed in the other Evolutions below.

WHAT IS A VARIANT ORIGINAL:  Throughout the Conte Crayon Series of this project you will see references to Variant Originals rather than the usual Limited Edition prints you see everywhere.  Variant Originals are all hand prepped, drawn, and finished here in the studio and are the optimal transmission of this Wolf through this artist to you and your environment.  Experience the full intent and energy of the artist with each of these Variant Originals.  These are NOT prints.  Every one of them is completely hand drawn by the artist working from the same basic design and color scheme.  The hand drawn nature and the feeling of the artist makes each one unique in small ways.

Evolution 01:  This evolution is triggered when at least 7 of the Variant Originals from Evolution 00 of that same Wolf are sold.  The Evolution 01 Wolves are 7-Panel Wolves (each panel is 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches and together are hung as one image).  While the individual panels are squares the assemblage of all of them does not typically remain in a square shape.  The outline of the finished image is dictated by the needs of the evolving Wolf.  While not identical to the single panel piece it evolved from the composition and color scheme will recognizably be a growth from the piece it evolved from with additional detail and components added.

For the remaining Evolutions, the sale of at least 7 Variant Originals at each Evolution triggers the next Evolution.  A Variant Original is fully hand created by the artist using the same basic design and color but not exactly the same in many ways (the artist is not a machine or computer after all).  Each of the Evolutions adds more of the same sized panels to an ever more detailed Wolf in a more developed environment.  As with the first evolution, the entire line will remain recognizable as further development of the same concept as the prior Wolf in the line and having the same title with a different Evolution number.

Evolution 02:  14-Panel Wolves

Evolution 03:  21-Panel Wolves

Evolution 04:  28-Panel Wolves

Evolution 05:  35-Panel Wolves

Evolution 06:  42-Panel Wolves

Evolution 07:  49-Panel Wolves

Evolution 08:  56-Panel Wolves

Evolution 09:  63-Panel Wolves

Evolution 10:  70-Panel Wolves

Evolution 11:  77-Panel Wolves

FINALE:

Once at least 7 of the Evolution 11: 77-Panel Variant Originals are sold the Finale is triggered.  This is a final 777-Panel piece incorporating all that was learned and developed through all the Evolutions of this Wolf, all the feedback received from the Pack, and any additional elements determined by this Wolf.  These pieces are the ultimate goal of the project and I am excited to be walking down this particular road with all of you!

As an additional exciting benefit to the Pack, anyone who purchased anything in the line of a particular Wolf that makes it to this Finale stage will get their name immortalized on the back of this 777-Panel Wolf!  This benefit is only available until the Finale Wolf is triggered.  Purchases after that point cannot include this benefit as the Finale piece will be committed at that point and further names cannot be included.  Please note there is no guarantee any particular Wolf will reach this Finale stage but if it does it will be because of people like you along the way!  Don't wait to support this project by purchasing your favorite Wolf or Wolves.  Your support of the project in general and this Wolf in particular is recognized right on the final piece.  Thank You!

Why do I work with multiples of these small panels to create larger pieces rather than the usual large panels?

There are two main drivers to this... one is driven by personal limitations and one is driven by the evolutionary and community aspects of the project.  The personal limitation is vision that has been impacted by ocular strokes.  One eye is not useful at all and the other is weak.  The result of this for awhile was a full stop on creating visual arts as I could not get my drawings and paintings to work.  Poor depth perception and poor vision led to being very challenged to create works larger than I could see clearly from close up at one time.  With multiple small panels making up larger works I can get each component panel correct and hang them together as one final piece.  Obviously there are other ways to accomplish the same thing which leads into the second purpose in working this way...

The entire project focuses on an ever evolving perspective across the 77 Aspects of Wolf, the explicitly defined Evolutions within each Wolf, and the use of Variant Originals rather than Limited Edition prints in the Conte Crayon Series (which implicitly means each Wolf evolves also within each Evolution - each one is not identical as the would be with Limited Edition Prints).  This final level of evolution thinking is that each piece in the project and any commissioned works can also continue to be added to, subtracted from, or modified throughout my life.  They can be purchased in one size and state and then, working with the current owner, the piece can be easily modified (usually by adding panels but not always) to the originally purchased Wolf.  This process results in each Wolf having the potential to evolve even after leaving the studio.  This is part of the Community Aspect of the project.

How long will the 77 Wolves Project last?

The answer to this was foreshadowed at the beginning of this page.  77 Wolves is the capstone of my art career.  I will be creating and evolving these Wolves until I retire from my art career.  This is a true Labor of Love and will not stop until I stop working on Art as a career.

I have nothing left in my bucket list that I want to accomplish other than development of this deep dive Wolf project.  I have led a truly awesome life so far and for that I am grateful for Wolf's continual presence and guidance.  My life long friend and mate has passed away and this project honors her more than you (or I) will ever fully understand.  I am near retirement from my job and it is time to get laser focused on this last phase of my productive time in this earthly form.  In a nutshell, there is little left to draw my attention away from the 77 Wolves.

That is my commitment to Wolf and to Pack.

Are you Wolf?  Join the Pack!

David Herman - Artist:  Celebration of Life Eternal, LLC